Hell Ship Toyofuku Maru/ Hofuku Maru
- Si Biggs
- Sep 21, 2019
- 1 min read
Updated: Oct 8, 2025
Unit/ Formation: Royal Marines
Location: Masinloc, Luzon Island
Period/ Conflict: World War II
Year: 1944
Date/s: 21 September 1944
On 20 September 1944, the Toyofuku Maru/ Hofuku Maru left Manila as part of convoy MATA-27.
Of the eleven ships in the convoy she was the largest and the only one carrying prisoners. Fast Carrier Task Force TF 38 commanded by Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher was the main strike force of the United States Navy.
Spotter planes from one of her carriers came across the Toyofuku Maru convoy on the morning of 21 September and a full scale attack was soon launched. At about 10.30 a.m. she received direct hits from two ariel torpedoes and three bombs.
She split in two and sank within five minutes. 1,047 prisoners were drowned, trapped below decks.
2 Royal Marines were killed.
BENSON, James A, Marine, PLY/X 100147, (Sultan):
DAVENPORT, Jack, Marine, PLY/X 100127, (Sultan),
Related Royal Marines 'Dits':
Further Reading/ References:
Never Forgotten - The September 1944 Hell Ships
Hofuku Maru broke into 2 pieces... heard they wanna repatriate the brits but I guess have to repatriate de dutch as well... :(
We found this Ship in 52m of water of Lapaz Beach San Narciso Zambales Philippines in 2016 while looking for dive sites near our beach, it has taken almost 10 years to get information about this ship. Somber tail and great suffering of the men on board.